Gift to UB Supports Special Environments Researchers

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A former post-doctoral fellow at University at
Buffalo has provided a gift to support young researchers in honor
of the training in the field of pulmonary medicine, environmental
physiology and bioengineering that he received at the Center for
Research and Education in Special Environments (CRESE) and
Department of Physiology and Biophysics in the UB School of
Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Seiji Tamaya, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the board of directors of
Tokyo Angel Hospital, Hachiouji, Tokyo, gave $19,990 to the UB
Center for Research and Education in Special Environments (CRESE)
in gratitude for time spent at UB as a post-doctoral fellow with
the late Leon Farhi, M.D., SUNY Distinguished Professor. Tamaya
said he also appreciated his continued interactions with CRESE
faculty, including Claes Lundgren, M.D., Ph.D. professor of
physiology and biophysics, and CRESE director.

Tamaya is an expert in hyperbaric chambers and the problems of
decompression associated with underwater diving. His work is a
continuation of that done with Farhi, Lundgren, David Pendergast,
Ed.D., professor and associate director of CRESE, and other members
of CRESE. Tamaya also researches and treats sleep apnea syndrome
and Alzheimer's disease.

The gift -- Dr. Tamaya's Research Fund for Environmental and
Applied Physiology -- is earmarked for CRESE members in the first
five years of their research career, helping them with conference
fees and travel expenses.

"We are grateful to Dr. Tamaya for his gift," said Lundgren,
"and proud that the people he met and the education he received
while at UB have encouraged him to ensure that others have equally
stimulating experiences."

CRESE contains one of the world's most advanced facilities to
simulate environmental stress. Researchers at the center have
studied respiratory and cardiac challenges that humans face in
environments as diverse as space shuttles and underwater. Current
project partners include NIH, the U.S. Navy, various pharmaceutical
companies, and the U.S. Coast Guard.